Integration of hybrid Laser-Arc and narrow gap submerged arc welding for cost-effective joining of 80 mm thick S355ML steel plates

• Hybrid Laser-Arc and Narrow-Gap SAW combined for 80 mm S355ML joints. • Weld volume and heat input reduced by more than 60% vs. conventional SAW. • U-groove design enables efficient filling with only 12 layers instead of 42. • Joint shows high toughness and uniform microstructure across weld thickness. • Demonstrates feasibility of hybrid welding for thick-section offshore steels. This paper presents the results of developing a cost-effective, robust process for welding thick steel plates. Welding trials were performed on S355ML structural steel plates with a thickness of 80 mm. A specially designed U-shaped joint preparation with a 45 mm root face was proposed to enable thick welds to be welded using a combined technique. In the developed process, a hybrid laser arc weld (HLAW) is performed as the first pass. Subsequently, narrow-gap submerged arc welding (NG-SAW) is applied to the opposite side using a multi-layer technique. The weld cross-section is completed using a reliable overlap of both the HLAW and NG-SAW welds. This method achieves a 2.9-fold reduction in weld volume and filler material consumption, as well as shorter production times for thick-walled welds. Further advantages of the process combination include eliminating the need to form the root of the HLAW weld and the absence of a backing support. The applied process parameters ensure that the maximum heat input does not exceed 5 kJ/mm, leading to uniform hardness across the weld metal and heat-affected zone (HAZ). Impact toughness testing at −40 °C demonstrated excellent performance, with Charpy V-notch energies of 138 ± 45 J in the arc-dominated region and 65 ± 12 J in the critical laser-dominated zone of the HLAW weld. In addition, the NG-SAW weld exhibited an average Charpy V-notch energy of 274 ± 5 J, confirming excellent low-temperature toughness of the fill passes. Owing to its high process stability and practical applicability, the proposed welding approach shows high potential for integration into the fabrication of thick-walled offshore constructions.